Morgan Sindall wins £65m Blackpool Multiversity

Blackpool Council has appointed Morgan Sindall Construction’s North West business as main contractor on a pre-contract services agreement to build a new £65m education campus in the town centre.

The Multiversity mixed-use educational development will bring up to 3,000 students and staff into Blackpool town centre and allow Blackpool and the Fylde College to relocate from out-of-town facilities into a world class campus off Cookson Street.

Land for the development is currently being assembled with the site offering a perfect location situated next to tram, train and bus services.

The Multiversity would be leased to the College offering more than 70 individual courses supporting a wide range of qualifications, from further education, through to higher education and adult learning.

The proposed development would include two phases, starting with an education campus on the corner of Cookson Street and George Street, followed by future development across the southern end of the site by Milbourne Street and Grosvenor Street.

The plans would deliver up to 32,600 sq m of education space and commercial space across several phases, starting with the new Multiversity building.

Outline approval for the scheme was granted in April 2024, with a reserved matters application to follow this summer.

Morgan Sindall’s appointment follows a competitive tendering process through the Pagabo Framework.

Steven Gregory, Morgan Sindall Construction’s North West Area Director, said: “Once complete, the campus will boost access to advanced skills for Blackpool’s resident and support the town centre’s wider regeneration.

“The Morgan Sindall team is committed to maximising the social and economic value generated during the development. This will be achieved in a number of ways, such as utilising local contractors and creating a Knowledge Quad to provide training and learning opportunities, such as hosting the Blackpool Community Skills Academy employability programme.

“We’ve also already partnered with Blackpool and The Fylde College to provide ongoing education support to help students become ‘work ready’.

The Multiversity is phase four of Blackpool Council’s £350m regeneration of the Talbot Gateway area around Blackpool North train station, which in total is bringing over 8,000 professional workers and students into the area.

The land for the new Multiversity is currently being acquired by Blackpool Council, with the support of a £9m Government grant while the construction was also awarded £40m from UK Government in 2023.